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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

USS Chawasha (ATF-151)

International Radio Call Sign:
November - Golf - Whiskey - Yankee
NGWY

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - American Campaign Medal
Bottom Row - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (1) - World War II Victory Medal - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp)

Cherokee Class Fleet Ocean Tug:

Laid down as Chawasha (AT-151) at Charleston Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co., Charleston, S.C.

Redesignated Fleet Ocean Tug (ATF-151), 15 May 1944

Launched, 15 September 1944

Commissioned USS Chawasha (ATF-151), 5 February 1945, LT. Howard K. Smith in command

During World War II USS Chawasha was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater and participated in the following campaign:

Campaign and Dates
Asiatic-Pacific Campaign
3rd Fleet operations against Japan, 12 July to 15 August 1945

Following World War II USS Chawasha was assigned to Occupation service in the Far East for the following periods:

Navy Occupation Service Medal
2 to 9 September 1945
23 October1945 to 19 February 1946

Decommissioned, 1 December 1946

Laid up in the Reserve Fleet

Struck from the Naval Register, date unknown

USS Chawasha earned one battle star for World War II service.

Final Disposition, fate unknown

Specifications:
Displacement 1,240 t.(lt) 1,675 t.(fl)
Length 205'
Beam 38'6"
Draft 15' 4"
Speed 16.5 kts.

Complement

Officers 5

Enlisted 80

Largest Boom Capacity 10 t.

Armament

one single 3"/50 cal dual purpose gun mount

two single 40mm AA gun mounts

two single 20mm AA gun mounts

two depth charge tracks

Fuel Capacity

Diesel 2,275 Bbls

Propulsion

four GM 12-278A 750hp Diesel-electric engines

single Fairbanks Morse Main Reduction Gears Ship's Service Generators
two Diesel-drive 100Kw 120V/240V D.C.
one Diesel-drive 200Kw 120V/240V D.C.

single propeller 3,000shp

Click On Image For Full Size Image	Size	Image Description	Contributed By
	1874k	Overall view of Charleston Shipbuilding & Drydock Co, Charleston S.C., in January 1945. Seven ATF's are visible, three on the ways at right, and four fitting out at left. From front to back they are: *USS Luiseno* (ATF-156) USS Cusabo (ATF-155) USS Nipmuc (ATF-157) USS Chimariko (ATF-154) USS Cahuilla (ATF-152) USS Chilula (ATF-153) and USS Chawasha (ATF-151)**. US Navy Bureau of Ships photo now in the collections of the US National Archives.	Alan Owens
	238k	*USS Chawasha* (ATF-151)** fitting out at Charleston Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co., Charleston, S.C. in January1945. Note Measure 32/17Ax camouflage being applied, and Yard Floating Drydock *YFD-15* in the background.	Alan Owens, USMM
	38k	*USS Chawasha* (ATF-151)** commissioning crew photo, 7 February 1945, Charleston Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co., Charleston, S.C.	Ron Williams for CAPT. William Larsson
	15k	*USS Chawasha* (ATF-151)** at Tacloban Philippines, 15 June 1945.	Ron Williams for CAPT. William Larsson
093915104	99k	Chawasha (ATF-151) laid up at Suisun Bay, CA. in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, 11 September 1975. US Naval History and Heritage Command photo # NH 84185

USS Chawasha (ATF-151)
Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)

Commanding Officers
01	LT. Smith, Howard Kineaid, USN	5 February 1945 - 1 December 1946


Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler and Ron Reeves

Crew Contact And Reunion Information
U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log

Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
National Association of Fleet Tug Sailors

Back To The Navsource Photo Archives Main Page

Back To The Service Ship Photo Index

Back To The Fleet Tug Photo (AT) Index

Back To The Fleet Ocean Tug Photo (ATF) Index

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This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo

Last Updated 23 April 2021